Review & Swatches: NARS Lip Gloss in “Downtown”

Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, semi-sheer and creamy formulas. Extremely wearable and versatile shades may be worn alone or over other lip formulas for added dimension.

This review is for NARS’ Lip Gloss in the shade Downtown, which NARS describes as a metallic pink lavender. The company also claims that this gloss has high shine and a creamy formula.

Packaging:9/10

NARS’ lip glosses come in plastic, see-through, rectangular tubes. The handles are made of the company’s signature black, rubberized plastic and twist off. A doe-foot applicator is inside.

Quality: 9/10

Downtown is a slightly shimmery, semi-translucent color. It’s a mauve color with lavender sparkles. You can apply it in a sheer, single layer, or add more layers for a more dense showing of color.

The formula for Downtown has just a little bit of thickness to it, but isn’t sticky or tacky. It has body without feeling goopy or heavy on the lips. The gloss is very emollient and will keep your skin moisturized for as long as the gloss lasts and a for a little time afterward because the gloss leaves behind a slight film even after the gloss has worn off. I know “film” doesn’t sound very flattering, but the texture is not at all unpleasant.

The wear time for this lip gloss is about two (2) to two and a half (2.5) hours.

Ease of Use: 9.5/10

The doe-foot applicator on this gloss makes it pretty easy to apply it precisely. I have to re-dip the doe-foot applicator into the tube to get enough product to coat my lips, but other than that, there is nothing complicated about using this gloss.

Price: 9.25/10

For $24.00 you get 0.28 ounces (8 grams) of product. You get more product per dollar compared to Make Up For Ever’s and Bobbi Brown’s lip glosses.